Player Updates

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski's contract for $4.75 million in 2015 base salary and $250,000 in workout bonuses became fully guaranteed Friday, according to CBSSports.com's Joel Corry.

Gronkowski caught 82 passes for 1,124 yards and 12 touchdowns in the 2014 regular season. In five seasons, Gronkowski has 308 catches for 4,379 yards and 54 touchdowns in just 65 games for New England. He is under contract through 2019, when he is scheduled to have a base salary of $9 million.

Patriots tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Michael Hoomanawanui were fined $8,268 apiece for their roles in a brawl at the end of New England's 28-24 Super Bowl XLIX victory, according to the Everett Herald.

But following Seattle's controversial play call — in which Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception instead of Seattle running the ball with Marshawn Lynch — the Gronkowski admitted being a bit confused as to what just happened, according to The Buffalo News.

“I couldn’t believe they were throwing it!” Gronkowski's father Gordy Gronkowski said. “You got Beast Mode back there and you don’t go Beast Mode in that situation?

“What was he thinking?”

Said brother and former NFL fullback Chris Gronkowski: “I have no idea why you would ever call that in a million years, especially when you have Marshawn Lynch on your team.”

Rob Gronkowski finished the Super Bowl with six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski found the end zone during Super Bowl 49.

Gronkowski hauled in six balls for 68 yards during the contest. He finished second on the club in receiving yards. While it wound up being a mild game for Gronkowski, he would not be kept out of the end zone. In the second quarter, he hauled in a 22 yard touchdown from Tom Brady. Gronkowski was matched up against the linebacker in coverage, and just blew right past him for the catch.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the 2015 NFL MVP at the NFL Honors awards show, held Saturday at the Phoenix Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Ariz.

Rodgers played all 16 regular-season games in 2014 for just the second time in the last five seasons, completing 65.6 percent of his passes while racking up 4,381 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added two more touchdowns on the ground while gaining 269 rushing yards on 43 carries.

Several other awards were handed out at the ceremony Saturday, as follows.

AP Offensive Player of the Year: DeMarco Murray, Cowboys

AP Defensive Player of the Year: J.J. Watt, Texans

AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Odell Beckham, Giants

AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aaron Donald, Rams

AP Comeback Player of the Year: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

AP Coach of the Year: Bruce Arians, Cardinals

AP Assistant Coach of the Year: Todd Bowles, Cardinals

Walter Payton Man of Year: Thomas Davis, Panthers

Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals

Salute to Service Award: Jared Allen, Bears

NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year: Le'Veon Bell, Steelers

FedEx Air Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers, Packers

FedEx Ground Player of the Year: Le'Veon Bell, Steelers

Deacon Jones Award: Justin Houston, Chiefs

Greatness on the Road Award: Tony Romo, Cowboys

Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year: Odell Beckham one-handed catch

Don Shula High School Coach of the Year: Bruce Larson, Somerset (Wisconsin) High School